Ombudsman organises interactive event on citizens' participation in 30 European capitals and cities

On 23 April 2013, from 9.30 to 12.30 CET, the European Ombudsman, P. Nikiforos Diamandouros, is organising an interactive event in the European Parliament in Brussels, in cooperation with the European Parliament Information Offices in 30 EU capitals and cities. The event is entitled "It's our Europe: Let's get active!". Citizens are invited to join the debate via Twitter using the #eyc2013eo hashtag. Mr Diamandouros said: "The active involvement of citizens from right across Europe in this event is unprecedented. Thanks to our partnership with the European Parliament, citizens will be able to attend the event in their own national capitals and selected cities and to contribute their ideas to the discussion in Brussels."

The event takes place in the framework of the "European Year of Citizens 2013". It will focus on how European citizens can concretely contribute to shaping the European Union, either by using the European Citizens' Initiative (ECI), by turning to ombudsmen, or by mobilising large groups of citizens to pursue grassroots initiatives.

The following top-level EU political figures will be in Brussels to listen to, and engage with, European citizens throughout the Member States: Martin Schulz, President of the European Parliament, Viviane Reding and Maroš Šefčovič, Vice-Presidents of the European Commission, and the European Ombudsman himself.

The programme will focus on two major themes: "Help solve the economic crisis" and "Build a clean and healthy Europe". The event will be moderated by Chris Burns, Euronews.

The European Ombudsman investigates complaints about maladministration in the EU institutions and bodies. Any EU citizen, resident, or an enterprise or association in a Member State, can lodge a complaint with the Ombudsman. The Ombudsman offers a fast, flexible, and free means of solving problems with the EU administration. For more information: http://www.ombudsman.europa.eu